It seemed as if the busy actives of Lent and the weather were conspiring to keep me from paddling. When I did have a little free time it was snowing and so although the ice has been off of the lake for several weeks, I wasn’t getting on it. However, yesterday, the opposite occurred. I had a day off in celebration of Easter and the weather was perfect. A lazy start to the day meant that I didn’t get on the lake until about 8 a.m., but with the exception of one boat with fishermen who spent most of their time near the south beach area and one shore fisherman, I had the lake to myself.

As is typical for this time of the year, the loudest noises at the lake come from the geese. They complained about my presence from the moment I arrived, loudly protesting my walking from the car to the lake and launching my little boat upon its surface. I’m not sure that the noise had very much to do with me, really. I suspect that they are as loud when there is no one around as well. I think that these geese winter in the area, but I didn’t think to ask them they are the ones who hang around, or snow birds returned early from a winter down south or tourists stopping by on their way north. I think we have all types. Had I thought to ask them, I probably couldn’t have gotten a word in edgewise - they’re too busy honking and snorting and making their own noise.

Paddling away from one group of geese, I soon was struck with the beautiful quiet of the lake. There was almost no wind and the surface of the lake was glassy. I like to paddle toward the mirrored reflection of the opposite shore. I get to see everything twice: once extending up and again extending downward. When the lake is flat, the reflection is as clear and colorful as the land above the horizon.

My first stop after launching my boat and paddling across the lake, was to pay a visit to the beaver. I hadn’t announced my coming and although I think he was at home, he didn’t bother to show himself. The lodge had fresh mud just over where I believe the entrance to be, and there were a few other signs that he is still around, but I didn’t get to see him at all. I sat as quietly as I could for quite a while listening for any sounds from the beaver, but all I could hear was the raucous chatter of a squirrel on shore, the red-winged blackbirds in the pussy willows along the shore, and the echoes of the geese on the other side of the lake. I left the little cove where the beaver has his lodge without seeing him. I did flush one great blue heron. This bird wasn’t especially big and may be one of last year’s chicks.

Mostly my paddle was about stretching my muscles and getting a little physical exercise after a few too many sedentary days. The sun was warm and I soon was aware that I was dressed a bit too warmly for the adventure. I had on only a t-shirt and a paddling jacket on the top. I wore just a cap as I paddled, so the top half was just right. But below my spray skirt, I was wearing dry pants and a pair of insulated booties. The gear is probably necessary because the water temperature is too cold to give much time for a self rescue in the event of a capsize, but there was little risk of such an event on the calm waters yesterday. I began to wish I had brought a canoe instead of the kayak. Canoes are cooler since there is no deck and spray skirt to trap body-warmed air. Regardless of the fact that I was warm, the day felt wonderful and paddling on the lake was a great Easter gift. The lake has a way of renewing my spirit and giving me a fresh perspective on all of the other things in life. Being able to paddle in a boat that I built myself with my own two hands is a special reward.

After I paddled, I left the boat on the roof rack on the car. I’m hoping that I might get another opportunity to sneak out to the lake later this week, and I want to be ready to launch at a moment’s notice. Later in the day, I went to the store to get a few groceries and after doing my shopping, I went out to the parking lot. As I exited the store I saw this beautiful wooden kayak in the parking lot and thought, “someone has a really pretty boat.” Then I recognized that the boat was my boat on my car. Someone has a really pretty boat and that someone is me. I am blessed.

Our Celebration of the second day of Easter continued with time for a little nap, a few deferred home maintenance chores, a bit of cleaning and rearranging. I keep the snowblower in the garage during the winter to keep it easily accessible. This winter, it moved into the garage in October. I moved it to the shed yesterday. I know that I could still need it. The forecast calls for snow Saturday, Sunday and Monday next week, but I can always get it out of the shed if I need it, and it seemed to warm and wonderful yesterday to be thinking about blowing snow out of the driveway.

I cooked dinner outside. It was a perfect day for banking a slow fire under the grill with a liberal sprinkling of soaked hickory chips to fill the chamber with smoke. I baked beans and cooked a couple of pork chops on the grill. A little potato salad rounded out the menu for a great Easter feast. It was a beautiful day and a day of refreshment and relaxation.

Sometimes I have to slow down and take my time to remember how good God is.

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